Free Republic

For the second time in less than a year, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), an official agency of the denomination, has published an article arguing that sexual relationships outside the covenant of marriage are not necessarily improper. “An Ordained Single Woman and the Discipline,” published June 7 as part of the “Sex and the Church” series in GBCS’ weekly Faith in Action online newsletter, contends that sexual relationships should not be off-limits for unmarried UM clergy. Last August, the controversial series featured an article by Unitarian “sexologist” Debra Haffner who wrote that one can have...

I don't know what to say: If the makers of this video weren't intentionally looking to portray almost every stereotype about homosexuals ...

Coded diary of Methodist Church co-founder Charles Wesley is cracked after 270 years Charles Wesley, Christmas carols composer DM 3.1.2002 P51 A 270-year-old diary, written in code, has been cracked for the first time to reveal a secret history of the Methodist church, it emerged today. After nine years of painstaking work, more than 1,000 handwritten pages from 1736 - 1756 have been deciphered from the personal diary of co-founder Charles Wesley. He helped establish Methodism with his brother John and also wrote many well-known Christmas carols, including Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The long passages of ‘hidden’ material in...

Imagine, if you will, that you are a missionary. You have taken the classes you will need to get around in this new country. You know the common language well enough. You understand the customs and are confidant you won’t make a scene your first day on the ground. There has been very little progress made in this locale, and that is why you were sent. It is your first missionary assignment, and you hope that God will use you to do great things among the people. You are in a high place. The top of a building, or maybe...

THE GOVERNING CONVENTION of America's third largest religious body meets this week. And the results might be a pleasant surprise for conservatives. Like the elites of other Mainline Protestant denominations, officials of the United Methodist Church have served as an amen corner for the secular left in America for more than 50 years. Episcopalians have imploded in schism since the 2003 election of their first openly homosexual bishop. Presbyterians and Lutherans are locked in gridlock over sex issues. And the more liberal-than-thou United Church of Christ has fully embraced the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a suitable spokesman. United Methodism, whose...

The United Methodist Church of Minnesota, which held its annual conference in St. Cloud last week, has a knack for detecting and embracing the "social justice" cause du jour. When Minnesota Methodist leaders congregate, buzzwords like "celebrating diversity" are generally front and center. "I believe when you embrace diversity," ran a recent United Methodist advertisement, "you embrace God." In the past, Methodist leaders have often focused on racism and sexism. This year, however, gay issues jumped to center stage. The Minnesota Annual Conference outdid itself, passing nine petitions on various aspects of the topic.

The Methodists' Mullah-Protection Plan By Mark D. Tooley FrontPageMagazine.com | May 11, 2006 The Religious Left has continuously opposed nearly all U.S. military action over the last 40 years, no matter the circumstances. Now it is poised to oppose any decisive U.S.-led action against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. This opening salvo came from the chief lobbyist for President Bush’s own denomination. "I don't know about you, but I am astonished at the reports of a possible United States attack on Iran," declared Jim Winkler, general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, at a speech in Washington,...

David Aikman's recent book, A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush, highlights the pivotal role religious faith plays in George W. Bush's life and presidency. The book chronicles Bush's slow ascendancy to his faith, taking note of the key people and seminal events that helped shape his Christian worldview. Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine, is an open Christian who is sympathetic to Bush's core religious principles. Aikman's work is the second one that touches on Bush's faith. Stephen Mansfield wrote the first, The Faith of George W. Bush, which was released last year,...

The official retreat center for the Southeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church is taking heat for its plans to host a convocation put on by major pro-homosexual caucus groups within Methodism. The Labor Day weekend conference at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina will focus on how to lobby to overturn the church's teachings on marriage and sex, and lobby for the acceptance of same-sex "marriage" and practicing homosexual clergy. Called "Hearts of Fire," the conference is being organized by the pro-homosexual Methodist group Reconciling Congregations. According to that group's website, one forum will "explore the development of transgender and...

Minister suspended after women complain The Rev. Wes Kendell is no longer serving as senior pastor of First United Methodist. By Jessica Lowell rep5@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - A local Methodist minister has been suspended for inappropriate behavior with several female members of his congregation. The Rev. Wes Kendall is no longer serving as senior pastor of First United Methodist in Cheyenne. He was suspended May 19 and can no longer take part in any ministerial function. The Rev. Chuck Cooper, a district superintendent for this area, said Kendall will retire July 1. Reached at his home...

Marian Renaissance among Protestants? The surprising answer is yesThe signs do not point to a complete restoration of the Blessed Mother's rightful place in the Church, but the signs are surely intriguing, and thoroughly biblical which is to say, thoroughly Catholic. The Marian renaissance includes pastors from all mainline Protestant denominations: Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists. High -Church Anglicans are mentioned only in passing because they're old hands at this. Here is a favorite quote from the Time Magazine article:In a shift whose ideological breadth is unusual in the fragmented Protestant world, a long-standing wall around Mary appears to...

Initial Post: From: "vaumccommunications" Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:50 am Subject: About Virginia’s Children of Promise Virginia's Children of Promise (VCOP) is a mentoring program provided by United Methodist Family Services (UMFS). It is made possible by Federal grant monies extended to faith-based organizations under President Bush's agenda. This program, and others like it, provides mentoring services to youth (6-15) with a parent incarcerated. UMFS has partnered with the Virginia Conference of United Methodist Churches and the All God's Children Camp to extend mentoring beyond one week of summer camp. [snip... asking for support etc.] Follow-up Post, 3 hours...

In the second ecclesiastical trial in less than a year of a gay Methodist minister, a jury of 13 clergy in eastern Pennsylvania convicted a fellow pastor today of violating church law by living in a lesbian relationship and ordered her defrocked. The ruling is evidence of the United Methodist Church's efforts this summer to tighten rules banning "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from the ministry, a step that gained greater urgency after the jury in a trial in Bothell, Wash., in March cleared another lesbian minister of breaking church law. At the trial in Pughtown, Pa., the jury voted 12 to...

On a Tuesday evening in June, 2004, Virginia Methodists were presented with a previously unannounced resolution offered up by the Reverend Gary L. Robbins of Virginia Conference's Board of Church and Society: Be it resolved that in accordance with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, be it resolved that the Board of Church and Society, on behalf of the Virginia Annual Conference, write the members of the Virginia Assembly: a) sending the members the Social Principles' statement on Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation (paragraph 162.H, The Book of Discipline 2000), which states, "Certain basic human rights and...

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- The acquittal of a lesbian Methodist pastor charged with violating church doctrine drew praise and scorn Sunday across a denomination that may see its divisions over homosexuality laid bare at a major conference next month. Saturday's acquittal of the Rev. Karen Dammann was celebrated Sunday at the church where she used to preach in Ellensburg, a small town in central Washington. "I'm very pleased," said Dodie Haight, a member of the congregation who sat through Dammann's trial about 95 miles away in the Seattle suburb of Bothell. "I don't think the jury had an easy task, but...

Why I Write These Columns: An Open Letter To Christian Conservatives By Chuck Baldwin Food For Thought From The Chuck Wagon January 30, 2004 My purpose in writing these columns is to make people think, to confront current events and trends with an intense appreciation for truth. My desire is also to awaken a lethargic population to an ever increasing societal, cultural, political, and spiritual departure from America's historic Christian roots and from a commitment to constitutional government. When I confronted the foibles and fallacies of President Bill Clinton, Christian conservatives hailed me a hero. I was deluged with congratulatory...

Methodist George W. Bush and Methodism's founder, John Wesley, share similarities. But the Rev. Wesley's example as a minister and social reformer provides instruction for Mr. Bush's own faith and presidency. First, the similarities. John Wesley, whose 300th birthday Methodists observe today, believed in personal spiritual discipline. He read his Bible daily. He prayed regularly. And he met with others in small groups. President Bush started practicing personal spiritual discipline about the time he gave up alcohol in the mid-1980s. He regularly reads the Bible. He says he can't imagine doing his job without prayer. And his more formative adult...

(KRT) - He started one of the world's largest denominations - unintentionally - but never joined it himself. He died with 70,000 devoted followers, but never found a happy marriage. A man of astounding accomplishment - and not a few paradoxes - John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, stands among the tallest figures in Christendom. June 17 marks the 300th anniversary of his birth. Methodists worldwide will commemorate the tercentenary with conferences, festivals and special worship services. Expect to find many a Methodist in period clothing, reciting passages from Wesley's prolific works. But don't mistake John Wesley for a mere...

<p>The Rev. Frederick Boyle, a pacifist and pastor of Millbrook United Methodist Church in Randolph, is planning to head to Baghdad next week to join the ranks of human shields there.</p> <p>The controversial shield movement is drawing volunteers from Russia, Canada, Italy, the United States, Ireland, England and other countries. Their first wish is to dissuade an American preemptive strike against Iraq. But Boyle, 53, said that's not why they're going.</p>

City rolls out red carpet for AME conference Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here. By Benny Smith Recent stories by this writer Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here. First AME Church will play host to the 125th annual conference Sunday through Sept. 28....